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Organ Projects

September 5, 2015
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Michael Proscia Organbuilder, Inc., Bowdon, Georgia

First United Methodist Church, Roanoke, Alabama

Construction of the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Roanoke, Alabama, concluded sometime in 1906 and included a large, very elaborate, floor-to-ceiling, fifteen-foot-wide stained glass window in the choir loft, located at the front of the sanctuary, twelve feet above and behind the altar. A few years later, circa 1909, the pipe organ was installed. Records from that time are long gone, and anecdotal information is sketchy at best. However, we do know the Pilcher pipe organ was purchased with aid from the Carnegie Fund. Based on ranks that have survived and the typical stoplists of the day, the organ was six ranks in size and hand pumped, with a façade that was 22 feet wide, completely obstructing the view of the stained glass window. Miss Fannie Dobbs, whose father, Reverend S. L. Dobbs, was pastor of the church from 1908 until 1912, was the first organist.

The large façade partially contained two ranks, the Great 8 Open Diapason and 8 Dulciana, with remaining spaces occupied by non-speaking pipes. In 1926, the hand-pumping mechanisms were replaced with an electric blower, and in 1928, through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hornsby, chimes were added, although the type of action used for the chimes is unknown.

From 1928 until 1974, the organ remained untouched except for routine tunings and maintenance as could be afforded. Then, in 1974, the Greenwood Company of Charlotte, North Carolina, approached First UMC, Bowdon, Georgia, First UMC, Roanoke, Alabama, and First Presbyterian, Union City, Alabama, with an unusual proposal, that Greenwood would rebuild all three organs (which just happened to be Pilcher instruments) of the churches named, simultaneously—thus affording the churches a reduced price as a result of less travel time and consolidating the rebuilding of all three instruments. The rebuilding included, for the most part, providing new electric-action chests, electric-action consoles (prepared for further additions), and removing from operation all the speaking stops of the façades and eliminating some older ranks within the organs, while providing newer ranks reflecting changes in voicing styles. 

In November 1986, First UMC Roanoke retained the services of Michael Proscia Organbuilder, Inc., as curator of the organ. A thorough inspection revealed several areas of degradation, i.e., failing leather in the stoppers, fallen languids, wire corrosion inside the console, and many years of dirt accumulation. Additionally, the plaster in the Swell chamber was separating from the walls and falling onto the pipes as a result of roof leakage.  

From that time until 2012, we maintained, tuned, and repaired as the church’s budget would allow. Then in 2012, we discovered that the wood supports (framework) of the large, stained glass window had begun to fail, allowing glass to fall out and rainwater to get into the organ area. The church consulted several stained glass window companies, and after reviewing their proposals, they chose the bid of Leeds Stained Glass, Inc., Leeds, Alabama. The work done included taking the many hundred small individual panes of glass out, cleaning them, placing them in new metal framework, and then lifting the window back into place. The church is thankful to Terry Barnes and Leeds Stained Glass for their work.

At this time as well, through capital fundraising, the church underwrote repairs to the leaking roof and walls, new risers for the choir, leveling the floor of the balcony, and a complete and proper rebuilding of the organ, which included seven new ranks, solid-state components for the conversion of the console from stop tab to draw knob, including the speaking pipes of the façade into the new stoplist (Pedal division), and re-engineering the instrument into divided casework, thus allowing the stained glass window to be seen from inside the sanctuary for the first time in 104 years!

This project is dedicated to the memory of our employee Joseph William Smith, who lost his life shortly after the completion of the installation. Joey felt a special attachment to the organ as he spent over a year with it, and it featured several of his recommendations. 

—Michael Proscia